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There was no mention of anyone beside Eidolon, but the wording about the curse of the imprisonment was very explicit. The prisoner would die if he didn’t shed the last unwilling drop of blood from the deliverer. Well, they had been prisoners just as much as Eidolon. Jayce glanced to the side, letting the papers fall again with a deep exhale.
“We will do what must be done.” Nika said softly, but his voice could have cut glass it was so sharp. Jayce simply nodded, taking the knowledge for granted.
“We will.”
A noise from the hallway had them both jolting and Hazel’s dark haired head popped through the doorway, sending a dizzying wave of lust, and something so much sweeter, rushing through him. She narrowed her violet eyes on them suspiciously but he didn’t miss the downturned corners of her luscious mouth. Memories of those lips distracted him for a moment, but her next words cut through them.
“The Mother Guardian is here,” She paused for a moment, swallowing hard. “She said, she said they found bodies. People,” Hazel had to stop again and Jayce barely contained the urge to go to her, to wrap his arms around her and tell her that everything was alright. Because the truth was, it really wasn’t alright.
“People that were killed, found totally drained of their blood, their bodies were…anyways, you need to come down stairs. I need you to come down stairs with me.” She finally finished haltingly.
There was a terror in her normally laughing eyes that had them both instantly doing as she asked, both wanting only to ease the fear and sadness washing through her. Again, for the millionth time since he’d met this incredible woman, he was caught off guard by her heartfelt sweetness, her kindness. Because foremost in her muddle mind wasn’t fear for herself, for her own life, but grief, thick and all encompassing for the lives that had been lost.
Instinctively, they reached out their hands, and just as quickly Hazel grasped them, lacing her fingers through each as they made their way down the stair case together.
The Mother Guardian was pacing restlessly in the small kitchen when they arrived, her normally serious face had more lines than just a few days ago, and a pallor that spoke of long, sleepless nights.
“Good, you’re all here. It’s about time.”
Jayce instantly forgave her snappish tone, it was obvious by the look in her dark gaze that she was just as afraid and uncertain as everyone else. His respect for her grew as she continued, her voice steady.
“I’m sure Hazel has told you of the…unfortunate circumstances that have recently been discovered.” She barely waited for Hazel’s nod of agreement before speaking again. “We have put out that they were wild animal attacks, bears, wolves, that sort of thing, but if anyone looks close enough they will realize the lie.”
“How many?” Jayce said, trying to keep his voice calm and detached.
“How many what?” Elizabeth snapped.
“How many people have been found?” He asked gently. She took a deep breath before answering his question.
“Three, so far.” Her voice suddenly sounded thin and raspy as she spoke, as if she had been deflated by the news. “There might be more, we have teams out searching the Black Hills, but it’s a massive amount of land to cover and we just don’t have enough people to send.”
“We have to go! We have to find him!” Hazel said, hot anger burning a deeper violet in her furrowed gaze.
“Absolutely not!” Elizabeth immediately shot back.
“No, Hazel is right,” Nika said slowly, “The more he kills, the stronger the dark spirit will become. If we can manage to catch him now, then we might just have a chance to stop him. The longer we wait, the more that he consumes…” he trailed off, not needing the say what they all knew.
“And how exactly do you plan on catching him?” The Mother Guardian asked, her austerity back in place like a mask as she faced them.
“I…well, I guess we will,” Nika paused, flustered for the first time in hundreds of years. “I guess we will have to figure that part out.” He finally finished weakly, and Elizabeth snorted in a way that actually had him blushing.
“Figure it out. Just, figure it out. Hah!” She turned away, staring out at the clear blue sky for a long moment before saying anything else. “No, there has to be another way. Besides,” She said slyly, “you would have to take Hazel with you. Are you willing to put her in such danger?”
